I'm back!

I had intended to only take a few days off to catch up on some projects. Here it is, most of a month later but now that my craft fair is over I should be posting more regularly again. Thanks for sticking with me.

Here's a t-shirt I customized for my cousin's son who's on a real dinosaur kick at the moment.

Book tour promotion - Wolves & Roses

RSVP for the WOLVES & ROSES Tour now… Get a T-Shirt Later

WOLVES AND ROSES is the new young adult shifter fairy tale by best-selling author Christina Bauer which “blends magical fantasy, swooning romance, and a bucketful of teenage sass” (Booklist) and is “a fun romp for Twilight fans” (School Library Journal).

And now they’re having a bookstore tour where you can get your copy of WOLVES AND ROSES signed, meet characters from the novel, and even take home a swag bag full of goodies… including a themed t-shirt! Bottom line? You don’t want to miss the WOLVES AND ROSES book launch tour.

Be sure to RSVP today and arrive early to the event (links down below) — there’s only a limited amount of swag bags given out on a first-come, first served basis to folks who purchase a new copy of WOLVES AND ROSES.

BOSTON, MA AREA


Barnes & Noble, Prudential Center, Boston MA
Wednesday, November 1st, 5:00 PM EST
REGISTER NOW

Barnes & Noble, Framingham, MA
Thursday, November 2nd, 7:00 PM EST
REGISTER NOW

NEW YORK CITY, NY

Bluestockings, Manhattan
Friday, November 3rd, 7:00 PM EST
REGISTER NOW

SAN FRANCISCO, CA AREA

Barnes & Noble, Corte Madera, CA
Saturday, November 4th, 12:00 NOON PST
REGISTER NOW

COMING SOON: San Jose, CA

CHICAGO, IL AREA

Barnes & Noble, Oakbrook IL
Wednesday, November 7th, 7:00 PM
REGISTER NOW

The Book Cellar, Chicago, IL
Wednesday, November 8th, 7:00 PM CST
REGISTER NOW

Graphic novel spotlight - Zen Pencils

Zen Pencils - Inspirational Quotes for Kids by Gavin Aung Than

Getting kids to appreciate inspirational quotes is a pretty tall order, so illustrating them comic book style is a genius move. The illustrations in this book are clean and tight but pretty cartoony, very appealing. They illustrate the themes of the quotes well. And the themes are repeated when appropriate. We get the female wrestler and the warrior monk several times, tying lessons together. The style and quotes are appropriate for all ages. This would be a great book to use in a classroom, either to introduce a moral lesson or in an art classroom, to inspire them to illustrate a quote on their own.

Non-fiction book review - The Comic Book Story of Video Games

The Comic Book Story of Video Games by Jonathan Hennessey

When Hennessey set out to explore the evolution of video games he doesn't mess around. Games, commercial entertainment, computers, it all gets explained. There are a lot of stages touched on, at least briefly, so there is a lot of information packed into these pages. Perhaps to much information. Serious potential for overload here. Visually its rather dense and cluttered. This is not a book to pick up for casual entertainment. If you're seriously into video games history, though, this might be the book for you.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - Cucumber Quest: The Doughnut Kingdom

Title: The Doughnut Kingdom
Author: Gigi D.G.
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Astronaut Academy by Dave Roman
                      Luna the Vampire by Yasmin Sheikh
Rating:

a quirky romp

Summary (provided by publisher): What happens when an evil queen gets her hands on an ancient force of destruction?
World domination, obviously.
The seven kingdoms of Dreamside need a legendary hero. Instead, they'll have to settle for Cucumber, a nerdy magician who just wants to go to school. As destiny would have it, he and his way more heroic sister, Almond, must now seek the Dream Sword, the only weapon powerful enough to defeat Queen Cordelia’s Nightmare Knight.
Can these bunny siblings really save the world in its darkest hour?
Sure, why not?

My opinion: This is a book that doesn't take itself too seriously. It's a little bit snarky, a little bit silly. The author takes traditional themes from novels and graphic novels alike and points out their foibles, their inherent foolishness. It's not laugh out loud funny, just clever and quirky. It has a lot of potential, though. I don't love it right now but a second volume could easily tip it into the category of "must reads'.
 
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Christmas ornaments (don't be mad)

It's that time of year. The countdown to our annual craft fair has begun. And thus, I bring you today a few new Christmas ornament designs. 

 

Book review - The Notations of Cooper Cameron

Title: The Notations of Cooper Cameron
Author: Jane O'Reilly
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: All the Answers by Kate Messner
                      OCDaniel by Wesley King
Rating:

intensely emotional

Summary (provided by publisher): Eleven-year-old Cooper Cameron likes things to be in order. When he eats, he chews every bite three times on each side. Sometimes he washes his hands in the air with invisible water. He invented these rituals after the death of his beloved grandfather to protect others he loves from terrible harm.
But when Cooper's strange behavior drives a wedge between his parents, and his relationship with his older sister, Caddie, begins to fray, his mother's only solution is to take Cooper and Caddie to the family cabin for the summer.

My opinion: The thing about OCD is we all have an idea of what it looks like, usually involving an inexplicable need to wash one's hands. So most portrayals are essentially the same. This one stands out because of the emotions. In particular, desperation. All of Cooper's actions have a desperate air about them. He's terribly unhappy but that mental stumbling block won't let go of him. Now, I will say Cooper is the only character that has much in the way of depth but that's okay in this case because it also reflects Cooper's increasing distance from those around him. It's not a comfortable book, certainly not one I'd recommend to an emotionally fragile child. But if you're willing to push yourself out of your comfort zone you're in for a treat.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley